‘Teens to twenties is the only time of life where your body functions well enough to party till 4am, then be present in your 9am lecture.’

Doing a little key and having a little line is all fun and games… until someone takes too much, and you all end up in ED. Experimenting with drugs and partying is a natural, yet taboo, stage of this strange phase of life we’re in.

Teens to twenties is the only time of life where your body functions well enough to party till 4am, then be present in your 9am lecture. However, taking this too far can lead to extensive consequences. The most important part of drugs, drinking, and partying is that you ensure you and those around you are safe. This is the most crucial part, and often the most forgotten. Many young people become of age and instantly begin partying every weekend. This is completely normal but seeing blackout girls be carried home by sober guys (who will do God knows what to them) is a horrible sight to see, and yet a much too common one. It is incredibly important that everyone looks out for themselves, and those around them.

These are the basic safety rules that essentially boil down to having respect and care for the people around you. They are things like sticking with the people you went out with, checking in on your friends, going home if someone’s had too much, and looking out for drunk people who are alone. These are non-negotiables that should always be followed, the easiest way for someone to get into trouble while clubbing is when they are left alone.

What to Do if you Get Roofied

Spiking drinks is unbelievably common, more than most people assume it is. You can never be too careful while out clubbing; you have to remember you are essentially partying with a group of strangers.

Spiking a drink means to put alcohol or drugs in someone else’s drink without their permission or knowledge. If you suspect you or someone else has been spiked, you should alert a trusted person (such as a friend, or a staff of the venue), keep a close eye on anyone who may have been spiked, call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates, and contact police as soon as possible.

Symptoms of ‘being roofied’ are sudden changes in mood, behavior, alertness, and intoxication level. Other symptoms that the victim will feel are nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, balance issues, paranoia, panic, hallucinations, weakness, impaired breathing or speech, and slow response time. If you feel these symptoms or see someone near you experiencing these symptoms, it is crucial that you find help.

Drink spiking is often linked with sexual assault and robbery crimes. An offender will spike a drink to lower someone’s defenses. Research suggests that 1/3 of drink spiking incidents are associated with sexual assault. Drink spiking is illegal in New Zealand- this includes if the drink is not consumed, or if the victim is not harmed. This crime is not limited to just putting drinks in an alcoholic drink- spiking also includes putting alcohol in a non-alcoholic drink and putting more alcohol in an alcoholic drink.

Many offenders will use prescription or illegal drugs such as benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and liquid ecstasy. Drugs used in drink spiking will often have a sedative effect- meaning the victim may experience passing out, trouble controlling their body, blackout or memory loss, or falling unconscious.

To reduce the chances of spiking, it is best to party with trusted friends, buy your own drinks, avoid accepting drinks from strangers, and keep an eye on your drink. It can also help to watch the bartender as they prepare your drink, to ensure there is no tampering from them or others.

Helplines

Healthline – health advice from professional healthcare providers
0800 611 116

Women’s Refuge Crisis Line – women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family
0800 733 843 (or 0800 REFUGE)

National Rape & Sexual Abuse Crisis Line – support after rape or sexual assault
0800 883 300

24/7 HELP LINE – support for sexual abuse survivors
0800 623 1700

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – for people dealing with alcohol or drug problems
0800 787 797

Victim Support – support for people affected by crime and traumatic events
0800 842 846

How To Get a Rape Kit

Having a medical examination after a sexual assault can be reassuring and make you feel at ease. This experience is incredibly traumatic, and it is important to ensure your body and mind are safe after an incident like this.

The most important thing to note here is that having a medical examination performed does not mean you have to involve the police. These examinations can simply help the victim to ensure they are not physically hurt in any way.

A medical examination will help to assess injuries, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and psychological needs. This will include preventative treatment in the case of an STI, preventative treatment for early pregnancy if wanted by the victim, and funded counselling if wanted through a claim with ACC. The victim of the incident can also choose to get an examination that includes collection of samples for evidence. This is called a ‘forensic examination’. This is ideally performed as soon as possible after the assault. This also includes making a statement to the police, this statement does not have to be made at the same time as the forensic examination though, giving the victim as much time as they need. The clinician can store the evidence instead of giving it straight to the police, to give the victim time to process and decide their course of action.

Specialist sexual assault medical services can be accessed through a variety of ways. The service can be accessed without a referral, or through a referral from the Police, GP, Sexual Health Clinic, Hospital, or through Oranga Tamariki if the victim is under the age of 18.

Drug Testing

‘Know Your Stuff NZ’ is a drug testing programme set up to ensure people have safe using experiences. This organization offers drug checking services at festivals and events all across NZ. They also host regular drug checking clinics in Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch, and Dunedin. They can test most powder, crystal, liquid, or blotter form substances. The only drug they are unable to test is cannabis as it is plant material. A sample the size of a match head is taken for the test. They are hosting a drug checking clinic at 16 Vialou Street, Hamilton Central, on the 18th March from 10am-12pm. All testing is free and confidential.

Safe Using

There are many drugs easy to overdose on, and many drug combinations that are easy to overdose on. It is essential to party life that you know the safe amount to take of your drugs, and which to not mix.

There are a few drug combinations especially lethal, these are: alcohol + opiates (Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, etc), alcohol + benzodiazepines (Ativan, Valium, Xanax, etc), cocaine + heroin, and alcohol + cocaine.

It is also essential that you are aware of how much it takes to overdose on each drug. There is unpredictability of how much it takes to overdose, as this can fluctuate based on body proportions, experience (whether one has a low or high tolerance), levels of activity, how the substance was used (smoking, snorting, drinking or injecting) and mixing drugs.

The minimum dose of cocaine that is considered lethal is 1.2g, but users with hypersensitivity to the drug have suffered overdoses of as little as 30mg. 1.2g is about a third of an 8ball, or an incredibly fatty line. The limit for MDMA (or ecstasy) is not a clear overdose amount, as doses vary with different users, and different batches. However, mixing MDMA with other drugs, high body temperature, and dehydration can make an overdose more likely.

Safe use is ensuring that you take small doses and work your way up. It takes time for your body to react to the drug you have taken, and you need to make sure you’re giving your body that time. The easiest way for people to take too much is when they keep taking more because they ‘can’t feel it’. Your body needs time for drugs to kick in, and the amount of time varies with each drug. Ensure that you research the drugs you are taking and understand the effects it has on your body.

Partying is fun, and experimenting with drugs can be an interesting way to learn more about yourself, those around you, and the world. However, you must keep your wits about you when having new experiences. Keep a look out for yourself, and those around you.

‘Ensure that you research the drugs you are taking and understand the effects it has on your body.‘